Method and apparatus for covering tubing



Aug. 16, 1927. 1,639,408

w. E. JAQUITH ET AL mmaon AND- APPARATUS FOR COVERING TUBING Filed Aug. 4, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Au 16 1927. I

, w. E. JAQUITH ET AL MB rHoD AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING TUBING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v iled Aug. 1924 Jaquifh m l 1. H 7///////// an E- MZ/i g E Faswsfhsz- Aug. 16, 1927. 1,639,408

w. rs. JAQUITH ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COVEliING TUBING Filed Aug. 4, 1924 U 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 if, r

Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

PORATION OF NEW YORK.

r 1,639,498 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

WILLIAM E. JAQUITH, BENJAMIN A. EVANS AND GEORGE FOERSTNEB, OF AKRON,

OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING TUBING.

Application filed August 4, 1924. SerialNo. 729,946.

This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for applying a cover of rubberized fabric to rubber tubing, particular- 1y to small size tubing of the character em- 5 ployed in the manufacture of the air ducts of player pianos, and it has. for an object to provide a machine which shall automatically and smoothly wrap the rubberized fabric about the tubing;

10 It has for a further object to provide a means for attaching the central portion of the rubberized fabric tape to a substantial portion of the tube surface and for progressively wrapping the fabric about the-tube,

15 one edge portion in advance of the other to effect an overlapping seamat the meeting edges of the fabric. 7 I

A secondary object of our invention is to provide a means for Withdrawing rubberized bias fabric tape from a roll thereof Without materially stretching the tape in the separa tion of the outer convolution from the adjacent inner convolution of the tape.

A further secondary object is to provide a means for pressing the fabric covering, after the wrapping operation, firmly to the tube and to provide means for causing a uniform progression of the work through the machine.

30 Of the accompanying drawings:

Figs. 1 and 1 together comprise a plan view of a machine embodying and adapted to carry out our invention; F 1g. 2 1s view in side elevation of the portion ofthe machlne illustrated in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the plow for wrapping the fabric about the tube, showing the work therein; I Fig. l is a fragmentary detailed View on line ii of Fig. 1 illustrating the coact-ing rolls which apply the fabric to the tubing; Fig. 5 is a detailed view of one of the guides for directing the rubberized tape onto the attaching rolls; I v 7 Figs 6 and-=7 are fragmentary detailed views on lines 6-6 and 7' 7, respectively of Fig. 1 illustrating the coacting rollswhich press the fabric to the tubing and pullthe ,0 work through the machine; D

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and llare views illustrating successive stages in the wrapping of the fabric about the tubing.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates .a table or bench upon which our machine is mounted, 11 the tubing to be covered and 12 the rubberized fabric in strip or ribbon form to be applied as a .cover thereon. The rubberized fabric 12 preferably is of bias-cut material and may be of the character described and claimed in the copending application of Abram E. Falor, Serial' No. 700,580, filed March 20, 1924. I

At one end of the bench 10,1a-roll 13' of the rubberized strip fabric12, wound upon a spool let having a spindle 15, is carried by vertically disposed, spaced brackets 16. The brackets 16 are provided with aligned horizontal slots 17 in which the respective ends of the spindle freely ride. Feed rolls 20 and 21. of equal diameter and preferably knurled to lessen adhesion of the fabric thereto are positioned contiguous to the roll 13 for pulling the fabric strip from the roll. Thelowerroll 20'is'1nounted on a rearwardly extending shaft 22 journa-led at an intermediate portion in an upright bracket 23, and at its rear end in ajournal bearing 24. Atthe forward end of the shaft 22 adjacent the roll 20, and journaled to swing thereabout, is a vertical plate 25. The bracket has an arcuate slot 26 in the upper portion thereof and the pgte is held in fixed angular position upon -ie shaft 22 by means ofa bolt 27 traversing the slot 26 and a spacing sleeve 28 interposed between said plate 25 and bracket 23.' The arrangement is such that by loosening the bolt 27, the plate maybe swung about the shaft 22 as a pivot through an angle determined by the length of the arcuate-slot 26. The upper feed roll 21 is mounted upon an arbor 80 which is journaled in the plate v25 in'spaced relation to the shaft 22, and engaging gears 31,. 32 carried respectivelyby the rear end of arbor and an aligned portion of the shaft 22, are provided for driving the same. Guide fingers 33, 34 are disposed with their free edges adjacent to and extending tangentially of the rolls 20and 21 respectively,

for the purpose of directing the fabric as it leaves the rolls and, in case of adhesion of the fabric to the rolls, for separating it therefr0m.. V

The shaft 22 may be rotated in any suit able manner,- preferably from the main or line shaft 35 of the machine. As shown, the line shaft 85 is at rightangles to the shaft 22, one end'thereof being carried in I bracket :6, the upper enl wheel 34 a bearing adjacent the latter, and provided with a friction wheel 37 which is slidably keyed to said shaftnear said bearing 36. ll. disk 38slidably keyed to the shaft 22 is disposed to rotate in a plane normal to that of the wheel 37 and to contact therewith, the disc 38 being held in engagement with the wheel 37 by a compression spring 39 mounted on said shaft 22 and engaging at one end the rear hub of the disc and at the other ball thrust-bearing secured to the rear journal bearing 24- of the shaft 22. Adjustment in speed of the feed rolls and 21 is effected by causing the friction 7 to be moved radially across the disk 38, in the well known manner of reduction gears of this type. A bifurcated lever is pivoted at its lower end at 13, and freely embracing and carrying the wheel 37 through the clutch connect-ion 44, serves to move the wheel 37 radially of the disk 38 to increase or decrease the speed of the feed rolls. The lever d2 is moved to and held in any position of adjustment by means of the micrometer scrcw carried in the of the lever 42 being secured at 41-9 to the free end of the screw 45, in a manner common in the machine art.

lhe design of the fabric feeding mechanism above described is such that the fabric strip 12 will be unwound from .the roll of fabric 13 in amounts required and without subjecting the fabric to a stretching action. The latter is of considerable importance since bias-cut fabric tape readily stretches to a considerable extent when placed in tension, and any preliminary stretching of the fabric would decrease its extensibility, which should preferably be at the maximum when applied to the rubber tubing in order that the covered tube may have the desired flexibility. The above desideratum is obtained by placing the feed roll 20 and spindle 15 of the fabric roll 13 in a common horizontally disposed plane and supporting the spindle freely in the slots 17. The rotation of the feed roll 20 brings the fabric roll-13 into pressure contact therewith at a line of tangency, so that the fabric upon unwinding is subjected to a separating force only at this tangent line and in a radial direction substantially transverse to the plane of the threads of fabric. The fabric strip then may be said to be rolled off without the application of any material stretching force.

The rubberized tape 12 delivered from the rolls 20 and 21 is permitted to hang freely through an opening 10 in the table 10, in a storage-loop 50, whence it is passed to attaching rolls 51 and 52, preferably cylindrical, where the tubing 11 is pressed down upon the rubberized tape 12. (See Fig. 2.) In passing to the rolls 51 and 52,

arcuate slot '57 is formed in the plate 56 to receive a tie bolt 58 secured in the bracket to hold said plate in desired angular position. Grooved pulleys 60 and 61 are carried by the plate 56, the tubing 11 running in the grooves of the pulleys as the work advanced. A further guide for the tubmg 11 may be provided, if desired. As shown,

a bracket 63 secured to the table 10 carries at its upper end rectangularly disposedcylindrical rollers 64 forming an eye through which the tubing 11 passes on its way to the pulleys 60 and 61.

One or more guides 66 and 67 are provided for the rubberized tape. These guides are carried by the plate 56 and are adjustable to accommodate different widths of tape and to position the tape with respect to the horizontal projection of the tubing 11 thereon. One of the guides, shown in detail in Fig. consists of 'a bra ket 68 secured to the plate 56 by a bolt 69. A cylindrical pin 70 and a screw threaded bolt 71, having a thumb nut 72, are mounted in the bracket 68 and extend horizontally forward therefrom in adjacent parallel, relation, the bolt 71 being loosely journalcd to permit rotation. Telescoped around the bolt 71 is a right-and-left-hand threaded bolt 7 3 having a thumb nut 7e. Guide fingers and 76, threaded onto the respective right and left hand threaded portions or" said bolt 73, also slidably embrace the pin 70, the arrangement being such that upon turning the thumb nut 71 the fingers are moved nearer together or farther apart, and by turning the thumb nut 72, the bolt 73 and guide fingers 75 and 76 are moved bodily forward or backward. The guides G6 and 67 are also preferably constructed so that they may assume different positions. Thus, the bolts 69 may operate in slots 78 of the brackets 68 to permit limited movements for varying the angle at which tape par 7 over the pins 70. In this way the tension on the rubberized tape delivered to the attaching rolls 51 and 52 may be varied to a considerable degree.

In passing between the rolls 51 and 52, the tubing 11 is pressed to the rubberi ed tape 12 which being tacky readily adheres ther to, and upon release of pressure upon passing beyond said rolls the tube reassumes its cylindrical form and the tape by reason its adhesion to the walls of the tube has unattached ends carried upwardly. Figs. 8 and 9. I

Positioned to'operate on the work in this condition is a plow shown "on an enlarged scale in Fig.- '3. The p'low consists of a blade portion 81 and a shank portion 82.

, The blade "81 of 'the plow is formed with toldingedges 83, 84 receding on either side trom a nose 85 in such manner that each side of the rubberized fabric tape 12 is pro-' extending in opposite directions from a rounded nose 85, the edge '88 of lesser-pitch where it approaches the edge 84 of greater pitch and being 'reversely cut therebeyond toiollow in spaced relation to the edge 84.

The plow 80 is supported by its shank portion 82 which is held in 'a spring-collet 86, the latter being non-rotatably 'mounted in a rotatable bushing '87 within a suitable holder 88. A lever 89 secured to said bush ing by a set-screw 89 is provided for making slight adjustments in the angular position of the plow 80 to meet various operating conditions. The holder 88 is formed with "a rearwardly extending stud 88 which is threaded through a sliding-'bloc'k90 (Fig. 1 the latter being mounted in such manner that it may be moved in the direction. of the movement of the work, or transversely or vertically thereto, as the conditions of the work may require. Briefly, the block 90 is mounted in vertical guide ways '91 on a movable table provided with superimposed leaves 92 and 93 which are adapted to slide in ,guide ways extending at right anglesfto each other. .Microme'ter screws .94 and 95 are associated with the leaves 92-a1'1'd 93,, respectively, and a third micrometer screw 96 associated with the block 90 from above, cooperate to effect such movements of the block 90 as may be necessary to bring the plow 80, carried thereby, into any desired position of adjustment. Secured to the end of the stud 88 is a worm wheel 97 operated by the worm98,-bymeans. of'whic'ha tilting of the holder 88 and plow 80 carriedt'hereby may 'be-e'flected. It is to be understood, however, that the specific mechanisms hereinabove described, are shown merelyas byway of example and that other equivalent means may be employed for efi'ecting'adjustments of the -plow.-

A. series of pairs of cylindricalirolls, having the axes-of adjacent pairs arranged in vertical and horizontal planes, alternately, are provided for pressing the fabric 'to the tube after it passes the plow 80, and for pulling the work through the machine. Thus, "the rolls designated 100 have their axes inho'rizontal planes and the rolls 101 invertical planes; The rolls are all operated at equal speed iro'm the line shaft 35 by means-of suitablegearin'g 102, which being of conventional construction is not herein further described. The line shaft 35 may be driven from any convenient source of power. illustrated, a-spur 'shaft'103, journaled in a bearing 10%, :is provided with a bevel gear 105n1eshed with a bevel gear 106 on the li-ne shaft "35, and a sprocket whee'l 107 secured to the spur shaft 103 is driven through the intermediary chain 108 from any suitable source of power (not shown). A hand wheel 109-011 shaft 103 is provided to assist in preliminarily threading the work through the machine. a

The operation of the machine is readily apparent from the above description. Prior to starting under power, the tubing 11 is threaded through the guides 64-, 61, and 60, between the attaching rolls 51, and 52, through the plow 80 and between the ipresser rolls 1'00 and 101. The rubberized fabric is then passed over the rolls 20 and 21, through guides 66 and 67, between the :at-

'tach-ing rolls '5-1 and 52 in proper juxtaposition to the tubing 11, and through the plow 80, the latter operations being performed manually, the hand wheel 109 being used toyeifect the progress'of the work.

FUpon application of power to the "main shaft 35, the work is caused to progress through the several operations leading to the completed product. All power actuated elements being driven from the main shaft 35, only minor adjustments in the relative speed of theseveral elements, which can be made while the machine is in operation, are necessary. The several operations .are thus coordinated in such manner that no attention is required on the partof the operator except to maintain the supply of tubing and tape as required.

Modifications may beresorted to within the scope of this invention and "we do not wholly limit our claims to the specific construction described.

We-claim;

1. The method of applying a rubberized fabric cover to rubber tubing which comprises flattening the tubing against rubber lized fabric tape by progression lengthwise of 'the'tu bing' and tape to cause adhesion of a comparatively wide longitudinal zone of the wall of thetubing thereto, releasing the fiatteningpressure to permit the tubing to assume its normal shape, then folding the tape about the normal-shaped tubing .pro gress ively from the attached to a marginal portion thereof by an abrupt wiping of the tape into contact with the tubing effected by progression lengthwise of the work and concurrently along a line disposed helically otthe work. a

2. The method of applying atrubberized fabric cover'to rubbertubing which coniof the tubing thereto, releasing the flattening pressure to permit the tubing to assume its normal shape, then folding the tape about the normal-shaped tubing progr lfrom the attached ta a marginal po thereof, by engagement with the outer face of the'tape along an extensive line substantially at the line of the tapcs progressive application to the tubing.

3. The method of applying a rubberized fabric cover to rubber tubing which coniprises flattening the tubing against a middle portion of a rubberized fabric tape to ca ise adhesion of a comparatively wide longitudinal zone of the wall of the tubing thereto, releasing the flattening pressure to permit the tubing to assume its normal shape, then folding the tape about the normal shaped tubing progressively from the attached to the marginal portions thereof by engagement with the outer face of the tape al, an extensive line substantially at the the vtapes progressive application to tubing.

4. The method of applying a rubberized fabric cover to rubber tubing which coinprises flattening the tubing against a mid dle portion of a rubberized fabric tape cause adhesion of a compara ely wide longitudinal zone of the wall of the tubing thereto, releasing the flattening pressure to permit the tubing to assume its normal shape, then folding the tape about the normal-shaped tubing progressively from the attached to the marginal portions thereof, the folding of one marginal portion being completed at any section prior to the folding of the other marginal portion to effect a smooth lap-seam.

5. In an apparatus for applying a rubberized fabric cover to rubber tubing, in comination, means for flattening rubber tubing against rubberized fabric tape to cause adhesion of a comparatively wide longitudinal zone of the wall of the tubing thereto, and means for folding the tape about the tube whe its normal shape has been reassuined progressively from the attached portion to the-marginal portions of the tape, the said means being so constructed and arranged as to engage the outer face of the tape alone an extensive line substantially at the line or the tapes progressive application to the tub ing. 6. In an apparatus for applying a rubbe ized fabric cover to rubber tubing. in cont bination, means for progressively flattening rubber tubing against rubberized fa'Jr c tape to cause adhesion of a comparatively wide longitudinal zone of the wall of the tul; thereto, and means for folding the tape about the tublng when its normal shape has been reassumed, progressively from the attached portion to the marginal portions of the tape, said folding means being so connetcd and arranged as to bring the tape abruptly into contact with the tubing by enga' ment with the outer face of the tape an extensive line disposed helically of e wt fl; and substantially at the tapes line progressive application to the tubing. '7. ln an apparatus for applying a rubberfabric cover to rubber tubing, in comation, means for flattening rubber tubing iinst a middle portion of a rubberized fabric tape to cause adhesion of a considerable portion of the wall of the tubing thereto, ans for advancing the tubing and tape continueusly to and from said flattening ns, means operative after thetubing and 3e have left the flattening means for foldthe tape about the tube progressively the attached portion to the marginal he of the tape. In an apparatus for applying a rubber ric cover to rubber tubing, in com- 1011, means for flattening rubber tubing f a middle portion of a rubberized 'l'abric tape to cause adhesion of a considerable portion of the wall of the tubing thereto, means for advancing the tubing and tape i .iously to and from said flattening mean: a tubular plow receiving the tube nd tape from the flattening means, said p ow having a helicoidal folding edge for wrapping the tape about the tube.

9. in an apparatus for applying a rubberized fabric cover to rubber tubing, in combination, means for flattening rubber tubing against a middle portion of a rubberized fabric tape to cause adhesion of a considerable gortion of the wall of the tubing thereto, means for advancing the tubing and tape continuously to and from said flattening means, a tubular plow receiving the tube and tape from the flattening means, said plow having oppositely directed helicoidal folding edges springing from a common point or apex for wrappingthe tape about the tube. V

10. In an apparatus for applying a rubberized fabric cover to rubber tubing, combination, means for flattening rubber tubing a; unst a middle portion of a rubberized 11. In an apparatus for applying a rubberized fabric cover to rubber tubing, in combination, means for flattening rubber tubing against a middle portion of a rubberized fabric tape to cause adhesion of a considerable portion of the wall of the tubing thereto, means for advancing the tubing and tape continuously to and from said flattening means, a tubular plow receiving the tube and tape from the flattening means, said plow having oppositely directed helicoidal folding edges springing from a common point or apex for wrapping the tape about the tube, said apex being disposed to engage the tape at its middle attached portion.

12- In an apparatus for applying a rubberized bias-cut fabric to rubber tubing, in combination, means for flattening rubber tubing against a middle portion of a rubberized fabric tape to cause adhesion of a considerable portion of the wall of the tubing thereto, means for advancing the tubing and tape continuously to and from said flattening means, means operative after the tubing and tape have left the flattening means for folding the tape about the tube progressively from the attached portion to the marginal portions of the tape, positively actuated means for supplying the rubberized fabric to the flattening means comprising a power driven feed roll, a spool in which the rubberized tape is wound having an axial spindle freely movable in a plane of the axis of the roll, whereby on rotation of the feed roll the tape on the spool is drawn into contact with the roll and the outer convolution of the tape is pulled from the next inner convolution b a force exerted in a direction substantial y transverse to the direction of the threads within the tape.

13. In an apparatus for applying a rubberized bias-cut fabric to rubber tubing, in combination, means for flattening rubber tubing against a middle portion of a rubberized fabric tape to cause adhesion of a considerable portion of the wall of the tubing thereto, means for advancing the tubing and tape continuously to and from said flattening means, means operative after the tubing and tape have left the flattening means for folding the tape about the tube progressively from the attached portion to the I marginal portions of the tape, positively actuated means for supplying the rubberized fabric to the flattening means comprising a power driven feed roll, a spool in which the rubberized tape is wound having an axial spindle freely movable in a plane of the axis of the roll, whereby on rotation of the feed roll the tape on the spool is drawn into contact with the roll and the outer convolution of the tape is pulled from the next inner convolution by a force exerted in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the threads within the tape, ancll means for varying the speed of the feed rol 14:. In apparatus for applying a fabric covering strip to tubing the combination of a folding sleeve and means for drawing the covering stri and the tubing therethrough, the said foldlng sleeve being cylindrical and formed with a helical folding edge.

15. In apparatus for applying a fabric covering strip to tubing the combination of a folding sleeve and means for drawing the covering strip and the tubing therethrough,

the said folding sleeve being formed with a wiping face so shaped as to wipe the covering strip into contact with the tubing by progression lengthwise of the tubing while the tubing is in cylindrical form and concurrently along a line of progressive application disposed helically upon the tubing.

. l6. In apparatus for applying a fabric covering strip to tubing the combination of a folding sleeve and means for drawing the covering strip and the tubing therethrough, the said folding sleeve being cylindrical and formed with two helical folding edges of opposite pitch for folding the strip progressively in both transverse directions from its middle portion.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 1st day of August, 1924.

WILLIAM E. JAQUITH. BENJAMIN A. EVANS. GEORGE FOERSTNER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 1,639,408. Granted August 16, 1927, to

WILLIAM E. JAQUITH ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 3, claim 2, for the word "marginal" read "longitudinal"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this Sth'day of November, D. 1927.

v M. J. Moore, Seal Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

